The next day.
Kyle stood with his back to a stone brick wall, the dungeon entrance behind him stood out like a sore thumb in the middle of the vast fields. The entrance had retained it’s dragon shaped maw but lost it’s lower jaw, now just the top half of a dragon’s skull made of stone. Kyle stood to the side of it with his back to the stone below the eye socket.
Glancing up at the sky Kyle figured it was approaching this world’s time of late in the afternoon (“Days seem shorter here…”) he thought while staring at the rising moon (“How long has it been? I’ve lost count…”).
Turning his attention to his notifications he tallied up his accomplishments these past three days, (“Sixteen level ups…That puts me at level 117, still far behind the others but compared to those scared and lazy bastards hiding behind the alliance’s numbers…I won’t let their ignorance ruin this for me.”)
Kyle had been nonstop fighting the Corpse Reavers, only stopping to take a short five hour nap. He pushed himself far and beyond what he thought his mind was capable, accustoming himself with the body given to him and cutting ties with the bad habits it had during combat.
Kyle looked down from the sky and gazed off at the fields of grass and fields of farmland (“Call me selfish, call me whatever the hell you want.”) he took in the fresh air in a single slow breath “This world is where I belong…”
“Hey Kyll, they’re coming. Birse said to head inside.” said Seren from around the entrance before heading back in.
Kyle silently made his way inside the skull entrance, a ring of carved stone lay inside with a ring of runes inscribed on it’s surface. He went to stand next to Seren on top of it, the ring large enough to hold a couple dozen people. The runes lit up red one by one before the whole ring was alit, the stone circle then suddenly began to descend into the ground.
Lights flashed by as the runic elevator took them down, reaching the bottom around a minute later.
“Yo!” Greeted Birse from the other side of the hall, he sat on top of his beloved bone throne. The rest of the guild sat or stood around the stairs taking up to it.
“Alright everybody’s here, we’re just missing Xien’s Shades.” said Death.
As Kyle approached them he inspected each member to see their progress.
Birse [ [Master] Shadow Paladin] (All Seeing) (RHD Commander) Level 133
Soren [Forged Berserker] (Hammer & Anvil) (RHD) Level 128
DeathChilled [ [Master] Pyromancer]-[Martial Artist] (Flame Touched) (RHD) Level 136
Seren_Cross [Cleric]-[{Lord of Wisps}] (Glass Cannon) (RHD) Level 109
DemSkillShots [Ranger] (Ace) (RHD) Level 124
Cherrysboi [ [Master] Guardian]-[{Lord of Golems}] (True Tank) (RHD) Level 139
CHfarms [Druid]-[{Lord of Treants}] (Stick-Em) (RHD) Level 135
Steph773 [Elementalist]-[Alchemist] (Energized) (RHD) Level 134
Woodstauk [{Lord of Unicorns}] (Experi-mental) (RHD) Level 129
300thSpartan [Valkyrie] (Wind cutter) (RHD) Level 131
He wasn’t the lowest level but far from catching up, although levels didn’t say too much being above level 125 said a lot about what that individual’s skills were capable of.
“There they are.” said Birse while gesturing back at the entrance.
The elevator had quickly sprung back up after they had stepped off it and was now coming down with a couple dozen cloaked figures. The large group of Demons was a different shade than any other Demons Kyle had seen before, quite literally.
The Shades- each a Hellborn Demon- were pale grey skinned but not sickly grey, instead their skin looked like a thick hide. They wore light cloth clothing with some visible armour beneath it on their chest, shoulders, arms and legs but when Kyle looked closer he noticed that the ‘armour’ was actually part of them. Like scales by larger and closer to carapace, the natural armour grew out of their skin like some black bone.
After each one stepped off the elevator- which zoomed back up- one of them approached the guild, the Shade lowered his hood revealing his face. With signs of old age in his greying fiery orange hair and eyes the Shade glanced over each member until his gaze fell upon Kyle. The Hellborn’s right face was entirely covered by a natural mask of the same bone that made their armour, all but his eye was covered.
He gazed at Kyle briefly before speaking “So this.” the old Shade’s voice croaked “Is the venerated Dark Hero.” His gaze moved up to Birse “And his guild of misfits.”. Albeit the elder’s annoyed tone the rest of the Shades remained motionless behind him.
“So you know of us but we do not know very much of you.” stated Birse ignoring the insult.
“Of course you don’t, we wouldn’t be doing our jobs correctly if you did.” Replied the old Shade “I am Jjiar, Head Shade of the Shade Company. We are agents of the Pride legion, our duty is to read and study the shadows but I must say…it will be a honor to play with those that bend it into chaos.” He said with a mischievous grin.
Birse momentarily grinned back before returning to his business demeanor “Then let us not waste any more time, will you arrange your numbers to match our squads of two or shall I?”.
Jjiar shook his head “My people will follow those they choose, a party of three will follow your party of twos depending on their compatibility in skills. I will though join your own party, Guild Master.”
Birse nodded as he stood up “Then follow us,” he told the Shades before glancing at his guild “Leave once three of them have decided to follow you.” Birse gestured for Sparta to follow him “Let’s go newbie, you’re with me.”
Jjiar followed the two adventurers to the right where a large tunnel took deep into the dungeon, two other Shades followed him.
Kyle briefly studied the rest of the Shades and inspected some of them but the same result kept popping up.
Shade [Shade Company] [Pride Dezol] Level ???
Having given up on inspecting them he turned to also leave “Let’s go Soren.” he joined up with his predetermined squad mate and headed down the tunnel. Kyle glanced back to see three Shades following closely behind him, he found that using any kind of detection including [Spirit Detection] he had trouble locating them.
“Yo Kyll can’t you have Lil summon up one of those stone plate things to move through these tunnels?...” Soren asked bothered by the long walk ahead of them.
Kyle sighed “Lilior give us a ride please.”
“Okay!” answered back the dungeon’s voice in a strangely musical tone as it reverberated throughout the tunnel.
Kyle and Soren stopped as the ground below them rose and changed, the same circle of stone that made up the elevator appeared below them with some differentiation in the runic inscriptions. Kyle glanced back to see the Shades staring at the stone circle as it floated in place, alert and cautious of the sudden appearance.
“Hop on, it’s just transportation.” said Kyle urging them to hurry up.
One of the Shades -seemingly the shortest and youngest one- glanced up at him before carefully stepping up onto the stone disc, the other two followed just as carefully.
The runic disc then began to move forward faster than they had been walking, so much so that one of the Shades had crouched down at the sudden speed.
“So it is true…?” a female voice asked from behind them causing Kyle and Soren to turn to face the Shades. “This dungeon…is under your command?” the youngest Shade asked, her voice high in pitch but also rough.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Kyle studied their hoods as they hid their faces (“If I’m to work with them…this can’t go on.”) “Normally one introduces themselves before asking personal questions.” he stated with a raised brow.
The Shade backed off from further questioning, as if keeping their identity was more important than their curiosity. One of the other two shades however stepped forward and spoke as he pulled down his hood “Excuse my sister, she isn’t much of a talker.”, the same fiery orange hair and eyes seemed to be present on each Hellborn “I am Seriet, this is Seria.” He introduced himself and his sibling.
The third Shade-also a male and the tallest of the three – lowered his hood too. “Gark” he stated simply while scratching his orange-red beard.
Kyle put their names to memory “I’m Kyllix and…” he gestured at the Dwarf.
“Soren.” He said with a gruff voice and just as simply as Gark, the two seemed to be having a staring contest much to Gark’s chagrin.
“So it is true?” Seria pressed on.
Kyle held back a sigh “Not entirely, Lilior is more a friend than underling.”
The Hellborn girl looked at him with disbelief, “A dungeon?” said her brother Seriet “Your friend? I didn’t think dungeons got any smarter than survive and devour?”
“Survival is always my utmost priority below master’s wellbeing!” Lilior replied sounding disgruntled “And I may also devour you if you wish boy.” She then stated with a chillingly soothing voice.
Seriet visibly shivered “No…thank you…”
Kyle chuckled as he turned to face the front, glancing over Seria briefly as he did (“How old is she…do they just stay young or…why is she here at her age?”) he thought over while gazing at the tunnel flowing past them.
As if reading his mind Seria stepped to stand to his right, about a foot and a half shorter than him “Dark Hero.” She whispered in a strange voice, Kyle noticed the mana flowing within it. “Have you ever killed?” she asked sternly.
Kyle was briefly taken aback by her question, glancing around it seemed that nobody had noticed her question as Soren and Gark continued to glare at each other while Seriet awkwardly glanced between them. He glanced down at the young Hellborn, her expression cold and uncaring.
He matcher her output of mana and spoke with the same mana infused voice, similar to chanting by Kyle’s understanding it seemed to also create a skill.
Through keen observation you have learned the active skill [Mana whisper]!
Moving the notification out of his mind he replied “Have you?”
Seria gave him a cold smile “I have been a Shade barely under a year, I have bloodied my hands already. Do not look at me as if I’m some lost child, it makes it difficult to ensure your survival. I am a warrior and I deem to be seen alike.”
Kyle turned to continue gazing at the tunnel as it sped past them (“The difference in our cultures is too great for me to understand…for me to know…but…”), Seria was about to step back feeling the conversation over just as Kyle spoke back “Yes.”
She stopped and glanced up at him “Yes?” she repeated questioningly.
“My memory is hazy at best but I do remember, I don’t remember their faces or names but I do remember the scene. Out of a fit of rage I killed them all, out of my own incapability to control myself I ended their lives.” Stated Kyle with an expressionless veil “Tell me Seria, how do you pardon yourself for the lives you’ve taken? Under what pretense do you excuse them?”
Seria seemed to choke on her own words, unable to form a voice to reply.
Kyle continued to speak “Duty to your people? Survival for your own sake? In defense of another? You want to be considered a warrior but to be so then you must understand the thin line that differs a soldier from a murderer. Can you weigh the life of one against another? Who are you to do so?” he glanced down at her.
Seria’s expression was pale, as if Kyle had just picked at every sore thought in her mind. Which in reality was basically what he had done, focusing on a single person’s emotions through [Spirit Detection] told him a lot about that one person and even more when they spoke.
“Stop thinking about it, it will just get you killed.” Kyle finally stated after letting her ponder his words for a few moments.
Seria looked up at him with disbelief.
“Reality is?” Kyle continued to explain “It’s kill or be killed. You don’t need permission to kill, just the capability to do so. That is the nature of reality, then there is the nature of ourselves. Our morality, our code of ethics. Don’t just kill to kill but instead kill to survive, kill to defend others or kill to uphold safety of others. That is my code of ethics regarding taking life. Whether you wish to take it from me or not, is your choice.”
Kyle patted her on the head and raised her hood back up “Think it over.” He finally said before dissipating the mana in his voice. He turned to Soren who was having a chat with Seriet about Hellborn biology. “We’re here.” He told them as the stone disc came to a stop at a crossroads.
Kyle gestured down one tunnel that took to another stone disc, an elevator this time. “We ascend with that, you three take cover in the trees while me and Soren scout the ground.” He told them and after a series of nods turned to lead them down the tunnel.
He gazed down at his open right palm as a flicker of Frostfire briefly lit up (“The line between soldier and murderer…only I decide if I have gone over to the other…have I? Even if it was an accident? Am I?”)
(“I swear boy you’re more depressing than this smoky fucker next to me!”) exclaimed Ymir in his mind.
Kyle grimaced at the interruption of his thoughts and left the God un answered as he looked forward.
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Ruk
Grand Fae City of Orion.
The day of Sly's departure.
Reality split apart as Asmodeus walked out of the rift followed by Sly, the adventurer gawked around at the bursting colours that surrounded him. The streets were alive with merchants selling their wares, citizens going around their merry days and guards patrolling the streets.
Buildings made of plantlife grew wherever he looked, trunk for walls, leaves for ceiling and other greenery taking place of different materials to make up the city. Truly the city was something out of a fairytail, it’s people weren’t ones to let that thought down either.
Dark Fae with gleaming shadowy appearances, Fae with bright and shining colours, Demons with strange colouring and unorthodox shapes and most surprising of all Dwarves of competing hairiness and stature.
Sly was so engulfed by the scene that he almost didn’t notice the entirety of them stopping on the spot and turning to stare at them.
A patrol of guards- also mixed in race- cleared a path through the citizens and stood at attention in front of them. “Master Asmodeus! You have returned! Mind I ask who is with you?” one of the guards– a Dark Fae- asked.
Asmodeus went to fix his own hair as if being unprepared for people before standing straight and gesturing at Sly “This is Zoekul, lost descendant of Wrath. I am bringing him to Satan. Firstly though I shall be taken to see Mistress Lilliana, at once soldier.”
The guards saluted “Yes Sir! Her holiness is awake, Sir!”
Asmodeus’s eyes widened as a cheery expression took the previous solemn’s place “Wonderful! Wonderful! Take us to the palace!” he immediately followed the guards only briefly stopping to glance back at Sly “Come on boy! We mustn’t keep her waiting!”
Sly took his eyes off the surrounding stalls and tried to follow Asmodeus through the crowds to the best of his ability, that is he lost him about ten seconds in.
(“I don’t believe this! Why did I ever choose you as Hero!”) exclaimed Kali in his mind.
(“Woman! Shut the fuck up!”) Sly cursed back as he rushed through the streets trying to look for any building that slightly resembled his idea of a palace.
(“It’s a Devil! How do you lose a Devil!?”) asked Kali in disbelief.
(“Do you ever shut the fuck up!?”) Sly asked in disbelief.
(“I’m a Grand Goddess! I do not have measly limits to communicating with my chosen!”) she then exclaimed proudly.
“Well ain’t I just fucking out of luck then!?” cried out Sly as he continued to roam the bustling streets.
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Asmodeus rushed through the servants and guards then into the room “My Lady! You are awake!?” he exclaimed happily as he burst into the dining room. Everything inside the room, table, chairs and decorations alike were made of plant life, from the lavish paintings to the metal-like wooden cutlery.
Liliana sat at the end of a long table, devouring her way through what resembled a large bird’s cooked carcass. The Fae’s long blonde hair was being worked on by two servants as she ate, her thin frame seemingly starved for days. She still wore her thin revealing white cloth bedwear and pink furry slippers.
Briefly she stopped eating to look around the large bird she had for food and look at Asmodeus.
Her eyes gleamed like crystal reflecting multiple colours as she stared at him “Well you fool!? What you standing there for!?” she scowled at him before returning to eating “Swit Dwown!”.
Asmodeus dramatically sighed and strolled over to her side “How have you been my Lady? I have you slept well? Are you up to date with ou-”
She cut him off “Yes I am up to date Asmo!...I slept horribly and I was starving!” she exclaimed in between bites, suddenly she stood up from the chair as her servants finished her hair. It trailed behind her as she walked towards one of the windows in the room, brushed down and braided.
Her wings appeared out of her back, green-blue and lined with black. Her clothes changed as black sparks rushed through them, turning into a dark blue-green dress that reached her knees gleaming with the light and sparkling where it didn’t.
She willed the window to open and it did, the wooden frame untangled itself and disappeared into the walls. “Fly with me.” She told the Devil as her wings flapped once, she ascended out of the window.
Asmodeus walked up to the window as dark smoke was expelled from his feet, he hovered out behind her.
Liliana gazed down at the city below, a chaotic yet perfectly crafted city of roots, trees and other plant life. Colours beyond a normal forest filled her view as she raised her gaze to look at the horizon, to look at what lay behind their walls.
A massive forest -almost jungle-like- grew all around the city, every now and then a golden tree could be pointed out between the many trees.
"I have received a message through my dreams Asmo." Liliana began as she gazed off.
"What is it mistress?" Asmodeus joined her in the air but instead gazed off at something peculiar going on below.
"The prophecy was changed. I don't know how or why but something demands it..." she spoke bitterly.
"What has changed?" he asked, glancing up at her briefly.
"Three tests are to be had, tests of will for three chosen. It is as if the Avatar itself is watching us now..." she sighed.
Asmodeus nodded quietly, his expression turning serious as he continued to stare downwards.
“How goes the quest? Is my chosen ready? Have you found her support?” Liliana asked as she gazed off at the forest.
“She still remains…scared. We have though found her support, a group of summoned have joined our cause. Two of them are also Heroes, chosen.” Asmodues replied as he continued to stare down at the streets, amused by whatever he was watching.
Liliana looked to her side and at him “Two? How is that possible? Only Ymir’s chosen should be capable of choosing of their own volition.”
Asmodeus snickered “The Dark Hero is one of them, the other though…well you can ask him yourself my lady. Although I am unsure as to how...he is currently in quiet the debacle down there.”
Liliana raised a brow as she looked down at the street Asmodeus was looking amused by “How in the deepest hells!?”